Shared genetic and epigenetic mechanisms between chronic periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma

To analyze bioinformatic datasets for detecting genetic and epigenetic mechanisms shared by chronic periodontitis (CP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Datasets from GEO and TCGA databases reporting mRNAs, miRNAs or methylation expression in human CP and OSCC tissues were analyzed. Differential expression, functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and genes (DEG) in CP and OSCC were determined. DEmiRNA-target and DEmiRNA-DEG networks were constructed. Directly and indirectly interacting cross-talk genes were screened, and their prediction accuracy and association with OSCC prognosis was determined.

3 DE-miRNAs (miR-375, miR-3609 and miR-3652) expressed in both CP and OSCC critically regulated most DEGs. Among 12 directly interacting cross-talk genes, NCAPH was significantly related with the prognosis of OSCC. NR2F2 had highest differential expression in CP and OSCC. Among 4 cross-talk genes (FN1, MPPED1, NDEL1, and NR2F2) differentially expressed in CP, 3 (FN1, MPPED1, NDEL1) were also expressed in OSCC. Among 12 indirectly interacting cross-talk genes differentially expressed in OSCC, 3 genes (CDCA8, HIST1H3J, and RAD51) were significantly related to its prognosis. Significant pathways involved in CP and OSCC included: chemokine receptors, class I PI3K signaling events, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and signaling events by VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, EGF receptor (ErbB1).

Bioinformatic analysis of available datasets implicated 1 directly interacting cross-talk gene (NCAPH), 4 indirectly interacting cross-talk genes (NCAPH, NR2F2, FN1, and MPPED1) and 3 DE-miRNAs (hsa-miR-375, miR-3609 and miR-3652) as shared genetic and epigenetic expression patterns between CP and OSCC.